❌

Normal view

There are new articles available, click to refresh the page.
Yesterday β€” 24 January 2026Main stream
Before yesterdayMain stream

The best fitness trackers for 2026

22 January 2026 at 05:00

If you're looking to get fit, sleep better or just keep a closer eye on your health, a fitness wearable is a great place to start. Whether you're into intense workouts or just want to hit your step goal each day, the best fitness trackers available today can offer loads of helpful features, from sleep tracking and resting heart rate monitoring to built-in GPS and stress tracking. Some are even subtle enough to wear 24/7, like smart rings, while others double as stylish smartwatches.

There are great options out there for beginners as well as more advanced users, and the variety of features means there’s something for every lifestyle and budget. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the best fitness trackers you can buy right now, and explain who each one is best suited for.

Best fitness trackers for 2026

What do fitness trackers do best?

The answer seems simple: Fitness wearables are best at monitoring exercise, be it a 10-minute walk around the block or that half marathon you’ve been diligently training for. Obviously, smartwatches can help you reach your fitness goals too, but there are some areas where fitness bands and smart rings have proven to be the best buy: focus, design, better battery life, durability and price.

When I say β€œfocus,” I’m alluding to the fact that fitness trackers are made to track activity well; anything else is extra. They often don’t have the bells and whistles that smartwatches do, which could distract from their advanced health tracking abilities β€” things like all-day resting heart rate monitoring, stress tracking, and even detailed sleep tracker insights. They also tend to have fewer sensors and internal components, which keeps them smaller and lighter. Fitness trackers are also a better option for those who just want a less conspicuous gadget on their wrists all day.

Battery life tends to be better on fitness trackers, too. While most smartwatches last one to two days on a single charge, fitness bands offer between five and seven days of battery life β€” and that’s with all-day and all-night use even with sleep tracking features enabled. Many fitness trackers also slot nicely into your existing ecosystem, syncing seamlessly with your smartphone, other fitness apps and cloud storage to keep all your data in one place.

When it comes to price point, there’s no competition. Most worthwhile smartwatches start at $175 to $200, but you can get a solid smart band starting at $70. That makes them a great entry point for beginners who want to track their progress without committing to a full smartwatch. Yes, more expensive bands and smart rings exist (and we recommend a few here), but you’ll find more options under $150 in the fitness tracker space than in the smartwatch space.

When to get a smartwatch instead

If you need a bit more from your wearable and don’t want to be limited to a fitness or activity tracker, a smartwatch may be the best buy for you. There are things like on-watch apps, alerts and even more robust fitness features that smartwatches have and the best fitness trackers don’t. You can use one to control smart home appliances, set timers and reminders, check weather reports and more. Some smartwatches let you choose which apps you want to receive alerts from, and the options go beyond just call and text notifications. Just make sure your smartwatch is compatible with your Android or iPhone, however, before purchasing, as not all of them work with both operating systems.

But the extra fitness features are arguably the most important thing to think about when deciding between a fitness tracker and a smartwatch. The latter devices tend to be larger, giving them more space for things like GPS, barometers, onboard music storage and more. While you can find built-in GPS on select fitness trackers, it’s not common.

If you’re someone who’s seriously training β€” say for a race or an endurance challenge β€” a dedicated running watch may be worth considering. These often provide more in-depth cardio analytics, recovery insights, and real-time pace data that go beyond what standard trackers can deliver.

Other fitness trackers we've tested

Fitbit Inspire 3

The Fitbit Inspire 3 strips out all the luxury features from the Charge 6 and keeps only the essential tracking features. You won’t get built-in GPS tracking or Fitbit Pay or Spotify control but you do get solid activity tracking, automatic workout detection, smartphone alerts and plenty more. The updated version has a sleeker design and includes a color touch display and connected GPS, the latter of which lets you track pace and distance while you run or bike outside while you have your phone with you. When compared to the Charge 6, the Inspire 3 is more fashionable, too. Its interchangeable bands let you switch up the look and feel of your tracker whenever you want, and it’s slim enough to blend in with other jewelry you might be wearing. We were also impressed by its multi-day battery life: Fitbit promises up to 10 days on a single charge, and that checked out for us. After four days of round-the-clock use, the Inspire 3 still had 66 percent battery left to go.

Fitness tracker FAQs

How long do fitness tracker batteries last?

The battery life of fitness trackers can vary depending on the model and its features. On average, most fitness trackers last between five to seven days on a single charge. Basic models with limited features could stretch up to 10 days or more. However, more advanced trackers with features like continuous heart rate monitoring, GPS, or always-on displays may need recharging after one to three days. If you're using GPS or streaming music through your fitness tracker, you'll find that this drains the battery faster. By using these features less, or turning them off, you'll extend battery life.Β 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/best-fitness-trackers-133053484.html?src=rss

Β©

Β© Fitbit / Engadget

Best fitness trackers

The 144Hz IPS era is over: why 240Hz OLED is the only monitor you should buy

21 January 2026 at 16:09

I remember unboxing my first 144Hz IPS panel five years ago and thinking we had peaked. I was wrong. After spending the last month staring at the latest crop of 240Hz OLEDs, going back to a standard backlit LCD feels like looking at a game through a screen door. Quick links AOC – 27” QD-OLED […]

The post The 144Hz IPS era is over: why 240Hz OLED is the only monitor you should buy appeared first on Digital Trends.

The TV that doesn’t look like a TV is $600 off right now

20 January 2026 at 13:33

Most big TVs are basically a black rectangle you tolerate until it’s turned on. The Frame is built for people who don’t want to tolerate it. When you’re not watching, it’s meant to blend into the room with Art Mode, so your living space looks finished instead of β€œTV-centric.” The Samsung 65-inch LS03FA The Frame […]

The post The TV that doesn’t look like a TV is $600 off right now appeared first on Digital Trends.

Your Galaxy Book6 Pro price just jumped in Korea

20 January 2026 at 07:01

Samsung’s Korean pricing for the Galaxy Book6 Pro starts at 3.41M KRW, and a report calls it a 20% hike. With only premium configs shown, buyers should watch for cheaper trims and regional prices.

The post Your Galaxy Book6 Pro price just jumped in Korea appeared first on Digital Trends.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 might adopt a unique display tech for a crease-free look

19 January 2026 at 12:57

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 may feature a redesigned display stack that uses new materials to spread folding stress more evenly, potentially making the crease far less noticeable during everyday use.

The post Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 might adopt a unique display tech for a crease-free look appeared first on Digital Trends.

Your next PC upgrade could cost more if 100% chip tariffs land

19 January 2026 at 07:53

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is warning memory chipmakers that skipping US investment could mean duties up to 100%. If that turns into policy, SSD and RAM prices may climb quickly.

The post Your next PC upgrade could cost more if 100% chip tariffs land appeared first on Digital Trends.

Galaxy S26 Ultra leak shows the colors you can expect, but orange isn’t included

19 January 2026 at 05:32

A new leak has detailed all the color options for Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S26 Ultra, and the previously rumored orange variant is suprisingly missing.

The post Galaxy S26 Ultra leak shows the colors you can expect, but orange isn’t included appeared first on Digital Trends.

RAM shortage chaos expands to GPUs, high-capacity SSDs, and even hard drives

16 January 2026 at 14:56

Big Tech's AI-fueled memory shortage is set to be the PC industry's defining story for 2026 and beyond. Standalone, direct-to-consumer RAM kits were some of the first products to feel the bite, with prices spiking by 300 or 400 percent by the end of 2025; prices for SSDs had also increased noticeably, albeit more modestly.

The rest of 2026 is going to be all about where, how, and to what extent those price spikes flow downstream into computers, phones, and other components that use RAM and NAND chipsβ€”areas where the existing supply of products and longer-term supply contracts negotiated by big companies have helped keep prices from surging too noticeably so far.

This week, we're seeing signs that the RAM crunch is starting to affect the GPU marketβ€”Asus made some waves when it inadvertently announced that it was discontinuing its GeForce RTX 5070 Ti.

Read full article

Comments

Β© Andrew Cunningham

Samsung XR smart glasses leak says you may see two versions

14 January 2026 at 08:57

Samsung XR smart glasses may launch in two versions. A leak cites model numbers SM-O200P and SM-O200J, plus a 12MP autofocus camera, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and transition lenses on one variant.

The post Samsung XR smart glasses leak says you may see two versions appeared first on Digital Trends.

❌
❌